Being a college student isn’t easy. This is a time in your life where you are discovering the most about yourself and what you want to be in life. From studying for tests, to homework, juggling a part time job, maintaining a social life, and preparing for your future, college can often be draining. 

But just know that you are not alone. Millions of young adults just like you go through the same issues that you are going through right now. 

It can be hard, but sometimes all it takes is a little inspiration for you to get your mind in the right place. So to help you out we have complied some of our favorite inspirational quotes that will help college students like you push through.

1. “ The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. 
2. “ There is no secret to success. It is the result of hard work, and learning from failure.” – General Colin Powell
3. “ There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs.” – Zig Ziglar
4. “ Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X 
5. “Every year many, many stupid people graduate from college. And if they can do it, so can you.” – John Green
6. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”- Nelson Mandela
7. “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” – Earl Nightingale
8. “Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.”- Edward Everett
9. “ All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.” – Michael John Bobak 
10. “ The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt 

Which quote was most inspiring to you? Do you have any favorites not already on this list?

If you would like to learn more about our Communications department, you can follow these links:

https://www.albany.edu/communication/

For more on the University at Albany follow this link:

https://www.albany.edu

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College is a place that can be intimidating for any high school graduate. It is often portrayed in a variety of ways but what is it really like to attend a university, specifically UAlbany.

Well lucky for you, today we will be interviewing someone who actually attends the University at Albany. His name is Nick Meredith.

Nick is currently a senior at the University at Albany. With 3 years of college experience under his belt, Nick is the perfect person to talk to when it comes to UAlbany and will help give insight on what to expect.

We recently had the opportunity to speak to Nick about his experiences at UAlbany and we decided to dive deeper. Here is what Nick had to say.

Hello Nick, can you tell the readers a little something about yourself?

I’m from a small town 30 minutes south of Albany. I have attended Ualbany for communications and can not wait to utilize the skills ive learned at Ualbany in the real world. I’ve learned a great deal in the communications program at UA and going into my senior year im excited for what’s next to come.  

Why did you choose to attend the University at Albany?

I attended the University at Albany because its close to home and I have friends that also attend Ualbany. I was also very interested in their very repreitable communications program and knew that it would be a perfect fit for me.

What is your major and minor and how why did you pick them?

I’m a communications major and minoring in History. I picked communications because i’m very interested in the large area of job opportunities involved with this major. Communications is very broad and there’s multiple fields of study just in communications itself.

What do you like most about attending the University at Albany?

Really like the people I’ve met and have had the pleasure working with in classes. I as well have enjoyed the large campus with multiple clubs and endless activities. I would recommend The University of Albany to anyone.

What is life like living at the University at Albany?

Life’s great. Over 12,000 students attend the University, and that’s just undergraduates. There’s so many different people you can meet and connect with. The school also hosts a lot of events you can go have fun at and take home some free merchandise. The school is pretty easy to navigate too, unless your walking around the tunnel system, then it can get a little confusing.

What are the professors and classes like?

The professors at Albany are really great. Many come from all over the world and offer unique styles of teaching for students to learn from. Since the school is so large, classes can range from over one hundred students in the lecture centers to a class of 12 in smaller classrooms around the podium.

Do you have advice for any future university students?

My advice would be to go to events and join clubs. Clubs and events are a great way to spend your time and you can meet a lot of people that way. Also, take advantage of office ours they come in handy and can help build a better relationship with the professors.

Thank you again Nick for taking the time to chat with us.

If you would like to learn more about our Communications department, you can follow these links:

https://www.albany.edu/communication/

For more on the University at Albany follow this link:

https://www.albany.edu

Communications is the study of how humans interact and use different forms of expression. College students considering a Communications major often wonder, what can I do with this degree after I graduate?

There are multiple answers to this question. Jobs can range in different fields such as business, journalism, media, advertising, public relations, etc. What most people don’t know is that communication majors have the skills that most employers look for. Communication programs give students the tools to speak, write, and think critically while being able to adapt to technology that is always evolving. 

If you haven’t considered becoming a communications major hopefully we can change your mind. Here are some reasons why.

1. Communications can be applied to many career paths

One of the best things about the communications field is its versatility. Weather you want to follow the path of a mathematician or be a stewardess communications is involved. Any time the boss talks to you or you have to send an email, communications is being put to use. Communications teaches you about interacting on a wide range of platforms like speeches, doctors appointments, in class, and even offers relationship advice. The options numerous Some popular paths you could follow with a communications degree are a journalist, advertisement, HR, management, and many others

2.Teaches you skills you can use in any workplace

By the time you graduate with a communications degree, you will have the knowledge and skills that can be used in any field of work. You will learn how to effectively convey your ideas in written and oral form. Not only will you know how to persuade people through communication, you will also have the tools to be an excellent leader and be a skilled researcher who uses credible sources.

3.Broad topic of study

Communications is one of the widest studied topics in the world. With four different types of studies on communication you can see why there’s so much opportunity. The first is Interpersonal and organizational communications. Which covers conversation like communications on a one on one basis. As well as communications in a large group dynamic . Rhetoric is the next type of studied communications with gets into persuasion and argumentation. Performance studies is more analysis based that goes into depth with relationships and everyday life. The last is media and film studies that breaks down techniques and tactics using social media.

4. New research everyday

With the rise of technology, internet communication has grown to include online networking and social media. These advancements change the way we can talk to people. You could never meet in person and have an entire relationship with that person. New studies There’s a whole field of communications to discover. Who’s to say communications will ever stop growing?

5.Any social situation is hands on experience

Communication allows you to do things hands on. When you study communication, most of the academic work you do will involve hands on experience. This is great preparation for your future career. Most college students prefer learning practical skills that they will use in their careers rather than studying a textbook. Hands on experience gives students the tools they need to confidently launch their career paths and gives an advantage against other people in the workforce. 

6. You learn about the inner workings of social media

The inner workings of utilizing social media are broken up into seven steps. 1:Audit your social presence in other words no what your capabilities and situation are. 2: Figure out your idea customer and target audience. 3: Follow up with a mission statement and make it clear what you will be utilizing this social media for. 4: Identify success metrics you can do this by discovering how far your Reach and Conversation Rate have come. 5: Simply create content that your persona’s want to see. 6: Investing in social media tools is crucial for success, these tools will show you what is and isn’t working.7: Track, Analyses, Optimize. This we give you a more rounded approach allowing you to continue success from the data of what is and isn’t working.    

1. You learn about the inner workings of social media

Photo courtesy of, Antonio Guillem

Big interviews tend to be very stressful. With opportunity comes lots of pressure. How can you take that pressure away pre interview? Interview prep is important and can make or break an interview, no one hires a candidate that draws blank on the opening question.

 1. Know what kind of key traits and characteristics your interviewer is looking for. The top 10 things interviewers look for can be found in the link. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/communication-interview-questions-and-best-answers.

  2. Know why your interviewing for this position and what the job expectations are. Knowing what’s expected of you gives you the ability to tailor your answers and show you’re capable of doing the job. 

3. The final steps of the Pre interview process is to practice common interview questions and work on your interview technique. Being able to go into depth on a question you’ve gone over and prepared for looks good no matter what job you applied for. Giving yourself the ability to really flex your communication skills and look confident,calm and focused is the key to a successful interview prep.      

Photo courtesy of Prism Executive Recruitment

Please raise your hand if you’ve ever gone to a job interview feeling unprepared.

When you go to your interview, you’re hit with a sudden feeling of anxiety and the thought of not knowing what to expect from the employer. It’s daunting enough marketing yourself to a company, never mind actually trying to communicate why a company should hire you.

Well there’s good news: having a successful job interview doesn’t have to be that daunting. With the right preparation and communication skills at your disposal, you could easily get hired at the job of your dreams, all without having to worry about the questions that will be asked.

Figure out what you are you going to apply for and we’ll walk you through how ace the interview using communications skills in this very blog post. When we’re done you’ll know exactly how to approach a job interview with confidence. Ready? Let’s get started.

Communication is one of the most important skills to have during a job interview.You can have the most picture perfect resume on your hands but if you can not communicate efficiently in the interview, your chances of being hired are slim. Here are some ways you can improve your communication skills during the interview.

1. Talk slowly: When anxiety hits you during an interview, you tend to get flustered and lose control of the pace in which you are speaking which can result in poor answers. Talk with a calm mentality and at a good pace.
2. Listen: Believe or not, listening is a part of good communication. Listening allows you to ask the right questions and shows respect to the interviewer.
3. Be Assertive: DON’T BE AFRAID. It is okay to assert yourself during an interview, as long as you respect the boundaries of the employer. Assertiveness shows the interviewer that you are confident in your abilities.
4. Ask Questions: Asking questions shows the employer that you are actively listening and portrays interest in the position. Make sure to prepare questions beforehand so that the interview can flow better.
5. Vocabulary: Good communication involves the words that you use. Expanding your vocabulary will help you effectively convey your message and answers. It also helps you express yourself in a way that stands out from other applicants.

The way you look and act in an interview can say a lot about you to the interviewer. Before you go into an interview you should have an idea of what kind of image you want to present to your interviewer. Here are a few things you should know:

1. Know how to dress:

The job you are applying for is a big factor in what you should wear. For example, if you are interviewing for a part-time job in retail then make sure you dress in an outfit that represents the style of the store you are trying to work at. These clothes will show that you are a good fit for the store and what they are trying to sell.

On the other hand, if you are going for a job at a high level position then you will want to wear something more professional like a knee length dress or a pant suit. These clothes will tell the interviewer that you are professional and serious.

1. Make sure you are clean:

No one wants to hire someone who looks like they don’t shower or even care about their personal hygiene so wash your hair throw a little makeup on, and don’t forget the deodorant.

1. Put your game face on:

The way you act and talk can tell a lot about you. If you walk into an interview and act like the person doing the interview is your best friend, it will come off as unprofessional. If you walk in, smile, and offer a firm handshake that says that you are confident and ready. When the interviewer asks questions make sure your voice is clear, steady and confident. Even if you are not sure about your answer sounding confident tells the interviewer that you are sure of yourself and aren’t afraid of being wrong. 

If you want to know more about how to present yourself feel free to view these websites:

Dressing for Interviews

Mastering the Job Interview

Knock the Interview out of the Park

If you like what you’ve read please share with your friends and family

Since it’s our first blog post we want viewers to know a bit about the writers and our purpose. 

Team members

Nick:

I’m a senior at the University at Albany majoring in Communications & Rhetoric. Communications is one of the most fundamental skills in the workplace making it a key attribute to have. Our communications department can show you the importance and power of communications. With lots of choices in communications courses you’ll walk away with a degree and the capabilities to be successful in the real world.                                                                                                        

Julia:

I am also a senior at the University at Albany majoring in Mathematics and minoring in communications. 

I am writing in this blog to help spread the word about the great opportunities the Communication department can give you. I would also like to change the students of Albany’s opinions about the Com department for the better. 

I’m hoping to shed some light on some of the courses the department offers and how each one can help you in life not just within the classroom.

Alan: 

I am a senior here at the University of Albany majoring in Communications and minoring in Sociology. I am writing this blog in order to help undergraduate students who are majoring in Communications and to convert undeclared students with an interest in studying Communications. Our goal is to build a thought leadership in this field and to create go-to-source for undergraduate Communications majors.

We plan to show you why you should consider majoring in Communication at The University of Albany. And how its a good fit for you! It’s very dynamic and will create the perfect opportunity for the type of person you are or want to be when you finish.  

If you would like to learn more about our Communications department, you can follow these links:

https://www.albany.edu/communication/

For more on the University at Albany follow this link:

https://www.albany.edu

Please help spread the word by sharing this blog with friends, family, and fellow scholaUAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez hosts a breakfast for legislators, administrators, and alumni at the Empire State Plaza’s Albany Room on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. (photo by Patrick Dodson)

https://www.ualbanyphotos.com/Administration/Presidents/Dr-Havidan-Rodriguez/Albany-Room-Breakfast/i-MQNdvnS

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.